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The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The iconic DC cherry blossom experience
Jessica McCallum, Features Editor • April 25, 2025

DC’s metro was said to have reached its fifth highest ridership in history on Saturday, March 29th with 558,000 tourists and Washingtonians. I am proud to say I was one of the 558,000 disgruntled commuters simply trying to get home after a humbling afternoon playing tourist at the cherry blossoms. It was all born of the naive notion that we could take a venture downtown to see the cherry blossoms on a prime cherry-blossom-viewing weekend, without getting trapped with hordes of tourists. So,...

Totally legal ways to ask your crush to prom
Totally legal ways to ask your crush to prom
Francisco Blancato, Contributor • April 25, 2025

Prom is coming up, and we all know what that means: trying to get a date to bring with you. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I’ve decided to help you out by compiling a list of ways to ask out your...

Artist’s Corner: Frances Leibovich
Adler Amolsch and Frances Leibovich April 25, 2025

With the help of some construction paper, paint, and skill, senior Frances Leibovich creates vibrant artworks that explore the emotions of teenage life. Inspired by color, nostalgia, and youthful experiences,...

Unnoticed wonders: Art throughout the building
Unnoticed wonders: Art throughout the building
Emma Godavitarne, Sophie Rothschild, and Josie Ritter April 25, 2025

Every day, Jackson-Reed students rush through the hallways with their eyes locked on their phones. However, if you take a moment to look up and you will see a vibrant world of art decorating the walls....

Required credits limit students' pursuit of other interests
Required credits limit students’ pursuit of other interests
Maura Cohen, Contributor • April 25, 2025

When I left middle school and started my journey at Jackson-Reed, I was looking forward to several things but one of the most exciting prospects were electives. For the first time, I would have control...

Volume 88 Issue 5
The Beacon Staff March 12, 2025

Volume 88 Issue 4
February 7, 2025
Volume 88 Issue 3
January 23, 2025
Volume 88 Issue 2
November 25, 2024
Volume 88 Issue 1
Volume 88 Issue 1
October 15, 2024
DC faces $1.1 billion budget cut as Congress blocks local control
Affomia Debebe and Grace Harscheid April 25, 2025

The District of Columbia Local Funds Act is currently stalled in the House of Representatives, following Senate approval. The bill seeks to restore DC’s budget following a proposed 1.1 billion dollar cut to DC spending in March, which Mayor Muriel Bowser protested. The budget cut would be devastating to DC’s autonomy. In March, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap spending bill, forcing...

More colleges require test scores for class of 2026
Clara Doyle, Managing Editor • April 25, 2025

As of March, over 50 private and public colleges have reinstated their SAT/ACT requirements for the 2025-26 admissions cycle, and it is anticipated that others may as well. While many Ivy League and...

After low turnout, SGA hopes to grow spring fling dance
Rohini Kieffer and Clara Doyle April 25, 2025

On April 4, Jackson-Reed’s SGA hosted a spring fling dance in an attempt to establish a new school tradition and increase school spirit. “We know the year is long and difficult a lot of the time...

Spreading awareness: DSA hosts annual fair
Spreading awareness: DSA hosts annual fair
Edith Corrigan Conaty, Managing Editor • April 2, 2025

In honor of Disability Awareness Month, the Disability Justice Fair was hosted last Wednesday which swapped the atrium’s cafeteria tables with informational posters at lunch. Students explored and engaged...

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White expelled
Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White expelled
Peyton Shum and Jordana Sloane March 12, 2025

On February 4, the DC Council unanimously voted to expel Ward 8 Representative Trayon White following a bribery charge. This was the first time in 50 years the DC Council has expelled a council member. White...

Prom tentatively set for hotel in Rockville
Dani Wallace and Riley MacClellan March 12, 2025

After multiple revised contracts and up to seven considered locations, the class of 2025 prom venue is expected to be confirmed by the end of this week. The front-running location is the Bethesda North...

Arrivederci! This year’s Italian exchange to be the last
Peyton Shum, Written Content Editor • April 25, 2025

On March 28, Italian exchange students from the Liceo Cambi school left Jackson-Reed, marking the last year of the Italian exchange program that was started 19 years ago. The Italian exchange students arrived in DC on March 22 to spend a week with host families at Jackson-Reed. During their time here, they went to the Calleva ropes course, a U Street walking tour, a Wizards game, and a biking tour...

Knock out your service hours with these organizations
Edie Young, Contributer • April 25, 2025

Are you feeling stressed about completing your 100 community service hours and unsure of where to do it? Well, you're in luck! Here is a list of various unique community service opportunities you might...

President Trump takes over the Kennedy Center
Avani Patel and Esme Nooruddin April 25, 2025

In an unprecedented presidential action, Donald Trump abruptly ousted Kennedy Center president of a decade, Deborah Rutter, along with all 18 Democratic members of the board in February. After appointing...

Teacher feature: Sonya Gelfand
Peyton Shum, Written Content Editor • April 25, 2025

At Jackson-Reed, there is always an abundance of new teachers roaming the halls. Here is an introduction to a new face in the JR community: AP Psychology and Honors Chemistry teacher Sonya Gelfand.    Although...

Trump threatens fifty years of DC Home Rule
Francisco Blancato, Contributer • April 25, 2025

As DC residents, Home Rule affects all of us, especially since President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to take it away. But to understand the implications of Trump’s recent statements, we must...

Are you smarter than an Easter Bunny?
Javier Thompson and Sarah Wiesenfelder April 25, 2025

Welcome back to “Are You Smarter than a Freshman?”  Today, our contestants are the Easter Bunny and Social Studies teacher Ariel Alford. Each contestant answers 10 questions about Easter, bunnies,...

Totally legal ways to ask your crush to prom
Totally legal ways to ask your crush to prom
Francisco Blancato, Contributor • April 25, 2025

Prom is coming up, and we all know what that means: trying to get a date to bring with you. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I’ve decided to help you out by compiling a list of ways to ask out your dream date! From best to worst, I've got you covered. Whether you’re socially awkward or outgoing and charming, I’m sure one of these options will work for you! For our very first one, if you’re...

Required credits limit students' pursuit of other interests
Required credits limit students’ pursuit of other interests
Maura Cohen, Contributor • April 25, 2025

When I left middle school and started my journey at Jackson-Reed, I was looking forward to several things but one of the most exciting prospects were electives. For the first time, I would have control...

When is it acceptable to wear shorts?
Tessa Frantz, Junior Editor • April 25, 2025

It is the point in the year where we begin the transition from winter to spring as the weather starts to get warmer and the ice encasing our summer wardrobes starts to melt. With this, the question everyone...

100 word rants: Assassin, Summer, Grad date
Edith Corrigan Conaty, Adler Amolsch, Eva Solomon, and Ava Serafino April 25, 2025

Assassin We love Senior Assassin. Instead of lounging in our rooms on a Thursday night, we are running around the city, creeping into cemeteries, lurking outside of houses, and getting hit by cars....

The bright and dark sides of daylight saving time
Alex Oh, Contributor • April 25, 2025

The concept of daylight saving time (DST) is simple. Starting the second Sunday of March and ending the first Sunday of November, everyone in America (except Alaska, Hawaii, and Arizona for reasons unknown...

Trump Administration makes significant cuts to environmental management
Trump Administration makes significant cuts to environmental management
Eloise Smekal, Contributor • April 25, 2025

The World Meteorological Organization released a report indicating that humankind has reached a new high in key climate change indicators. The Trump Administration has set a goal to roll back dozens of...

Lacrosse programs embrace season ups and downs
Lacrosse programs embrace season ups and downs
Eva Solomon, Opinions Editor • April 25, 2025

Since the boys' and girls' lacrosse seasons kicked off, there have been numerous ups and downs for both teams. As the season has developed, however, progress has been made. As of April 22, the scores started with the girls' varsity season playing tournament where they went 2-1-1. The following games had fluctuating scores, including a 16-1 loss against Maret and an 11-6 win against Wakefield. After...

Meet softball coach David Thompson
Meet softball coach David Thompson
Natalia Weinstein, Multimedia Editor • April 25, 2025

You may know him as the tech guy in the atrium, but David Thompson is also the head coach of the varsity softball team and JR’s very own Instructional Coach of Technology. Thompson, a DC native, grew...

Tough schedule preps baseball for another state run
Tough schedule preps baseball for another state run
Justin Glenn, Sports Editor • April 25, 2025

After reclaiming the DCSAA title at the end of last year’s season and dominating their conference for 31 years in a row, the baseball team returned this spring ready for more. With no hesitation, they...

Boys’ ultimate frisbee team ranked first in the country
Clara Doyle, Simone Meisnere, and Joao Braga April 25, 2025

The Jackson-Reed boys’ ultimate frisbee team is ranked first in the country and has qualified for the High School National Invite (HSNI). This annual tournament features the top 16 teams in the country...

Track and field team turns to the outdoors after Nationals
Sam Bigge, Sports Editor • April 5, 2025

The indoor track and field team saw immense success at the end of the season. After a strong postseason and a stint at New Balance Nationals in Boston, the team is looking to carry that momentum into the...

Track team prospers at DCSAA indoor championships
Track team prospers at DCSAA indoor championships
Sonora Hale, Ruth Mesfun, and Ali Green March 12, 2025

The Jackson-Reed indoor track and field team maintained their reputation with a strong showing at this year’s DCSAA state indoor championship. The Tigers put together a solid performance, with the...

March 2025 Spread
March 2025 Spread
The Beacon Staff, Justin Glenn, Noa Gordon, Edith Corrigan Conaty, Maya Roskes, and Norah Caplan March 12, 2025

Recruited athletes share their experience
Edith Corrigan Conaty and Maya Roskes March 12, 2025

This year, over 30 upperclassmen were recruited to play their sport in college. “Recruitment” describes the lengthy process of visits, scouting, evaluations, and the narrowing down of offers. For many...

Baseball makes history with record number of college commitments
Baseball makes history with record number of college commitments
Justin Glenn and Noa Gordon March 12, 2025

The baseball program surpassed a milestone this off-season with ten players, one junior and nine seniors, committed to play baseball at the collegiate level.  “Our program has always been able to...

Q&A with AD Arrington
Norah Caplan, Director of New Staff • March 12, 2025

Few people know the ins and outs of recruiting like Athletic Director Patrice Arrington. Once a star-studded recruit equipped with an athletic scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, Arrington went...

Honoring Black History Month in DC
Maddie Nusbaum, Junior Editor • February 7, 2025

African American history and culture are essential parts of Washington DC’s identity, meaning that there are many different opportunities available in the city to celebrate Black History Month. From...

The past, present, and future of RFK Stadium
Will Nichols, Contributor • February 7, 2025

DCIAA soccer players, sweaty teenagers, and wannabe influencers have long been exploring the abandoned building of RFK Stadium, recently renamed from FedEx field. The smell of spray paint lines, graffiti-covered...

The voice that sang at the Lincoln Memorial
Ivonne Nakatoke, Contributor • February 7, 2025

Marian Anderson was shook. Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, over 75,000 pairs of eyes and ears and the Lincoln Memorial stood her greatest spot. Her biggest swell of determination, coming from the 19 feet...

Los niños de ultimate frisbee ocupan el primer lugar en el país
Clara Doyle, Simone Meisnere, Arden Luckett, and Joao Braga April 25, 2025

El equipo de los niños de ultimate frisbee de Jackson-Reed ocupa el primer lugar a nivel nacional y se ha clasificado para el High School National Invite (HSNI). Este torneo anual reúne a los 16 mejores...

Trump amenaza la autonomía de Washington DC
April 25, 2025

Como residentes de Washington DC, la autonomía nos afecta a todos, especialmente desde que el presidente...

Rancho Izaguirre: El macabro hallazgo que expone la crisis de desapariciones en México
April 25, 2025

Tras recibir diversas llamadas anónimas incitándolos, 40 miembros del grupo ”Guerreros Buscadores...

La razón por la que debes tomar la clase de AP de Literatura y Cultura en español
April 25, 2025

Cuando tenía que aplicar a la universidad, en uno de mis “supplementals” se me preguntó qué...

Icono Arabe Americana: Amal Clooney
April 25, 2025

Amal Clooney es una abogada británica-libanesa muy distinguida, especializada en derecho internacional...

The iconic DC cherry blossom experience
Jessica McCallum, Features Editor • April 25, 2025

DC’s metro was said to have reached its fifth highest ridership in history on Saturday, March 29th with 558,000 tourists and Washingtonians. I am proud to say I was one of the 558,000 disgruntled commuters...

Artist’s Corner: Frances Leibovich
April 25, 2025

With the help of some construction paper, paint, and skill, senior Frances Leibovich creates vibrant...

Unnoticed wonders: Art throughout the building
Unnoticed wonders: Art throughout the building
April 25, 2025

Every day, Jackson-Reed students rush through the hallways with their eyes locked on their phones. However,...

Tenleytown: An analysis
April 25, 2025

Tenleytown: there are no words to describe my love for you. You’ve been there for me since my first...

Lonesome Drifter: Modern Country
Lonesome Drifter: Modern Country
April 25, 2025

Hailing from South Texas, Charley Crockett’s new album, Lonesome Drifter, is a staunch love letter...

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